A Confession from the Heart · The Waning Moon Breaks Free

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The Moonlight Pavilion was quiet in the early morning.

When the Nan Feng awoke, the sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten. The chill of autumn seeped in through the window cracks, condensing into white frost on the edge of the bed.

He regulated his breathing for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, circulating his Primordial World Power through one cycle.

The Divine Slaughter's Domain lay dormant deep within his soul. Crimson killing intent and golden Primordial World Power merged into one.

The gap at the entrance to the third level of the tower widened slightly. The Power of Creation seeped out from the gap, repairing the minor damage within the structure.

Today is his last day at the Moonlight Pavilion.

The cultivation at Meditation Grounds was complete. Most of the killing intent on the surface of his soul had been stripped away, and the rest would need to be refined in future battles. Tang Yuehua's guidance was better than he had expected, and the fusion of the Divine Slaughter's Domain and the Primordial World Power was more harmonious.

Morning light streamed in from above the eastern courtyard wall, turning the white sand and gravel of Meditation Grounds into a pale gold. Tang Yuehua stood under the bamboo pavilion, her back to him, holding a cup of tea. She wore a moon-white long dress, and her hair was loosely tied up with a plain wooden hairpin.

Nan Feng walked to the bamboo pavilion. Tang Yuehua turned around, placed the tea on the stone table, and pushed it opposite him.

"No need to cultivate today," she said. "Sit with me for a while."

Nan Feng sat down on the stone bench and picked up his teacup. The tea was pale green, and the steam carried the fragrance of plum blossoms. He took a sip; it tasted slightly bitter.

Tang Yuehua sat down opposite her, her gaze falling on the plum tree in the distance. Most of the old plum leaves had fallen, leaving only a few withered leaves hanging on the branches.

The two remained silent for a long time. The autumn wind blew in from outside the courtyard wall, and the teapot swayed on the stone table. Tang Yuehua's fingertips caressed the rim of the cup.

"Nan Feng." She finally spoke, her voice lower than usual, carrying an unusual solemnity.

Nan Feng put down his teacup and looked at her.

Tang Yuehua didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the plum tree, and the gloom between her brows was even more pronounced than a few days ago.

"I've been in the Moonlight Pavilion for almost twenty years," she began. "I've met many people— Soul Master, nobles, royalty, and even outlaws like you from the Slaughter City. But you are the most special one."

She picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"The power within your soul is ancient, older than Soul Power, older than the Divine Realm. You possess a composure that doesn't belong to this world; you've seen sights others haven't. And..."

She turned her head to look at Nan Feng.

"The way you look at me is different from everyone else's. You knew something the first time you saw me, didn't you?"

"Your Soul Power is stuck at level 9," Nan Feng said calmly. "Your Martial Soul Origin is enveloped by something, something that carries suppressed emotions. The Martial Soul Core can only be detected by the person actively revealing it. But when you release your Moonlight Martial Soul, the edges of the crescent moon phantom are jagged, as if it has been forcibly cut in half."

Tang Yuehua's hand tightened, causing the tea to slosh.

"You've lived in the Moonlight Pavilion for almost twenty years," Nan Feng said. "You've stayed here, teaching the noble children etiquette and the basics of Soul Power, never leaving Heaven Dou City. If you wanted to marry, the line of men in the Heaven Dou Empire who wanted to marry you could stretch from the east gate to the west gate. But you've remained unmarried your entire life."

Tang Yuehua's lips tightened. The knuckles of her fingers gripping the teacup turned white.

"Your Soul Power is stuck at level 9, not because your Martial Soul is flawed," Nan Feng said, looking directly into her eyes. "It's because there's someone in your heart. You think about them every day, but you can never get close to them."

Tang Yuehua closed her eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Tang Hao," Nan Feng said, "Your second brother."

The area under the bamboo pavilion quieted down.

Tang Yuehua neither opened her eyes nor denied it. She sat on the stone bench, her back straight, her lips pursed. After a long time, long enough for the steam from the teacup to dissipate, she finally opened her eyes. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but no tears fell.

"How did you know?" Her voice was hoarse.

"The way your Martial Soul Origin is suppressed is different from ordinary emotional knots," Nan Feng said. "Ordinary emotional stagnation would only dim the Martial Soul Core. But your Martial Soul Core is wrapped in something complete, carrying a sense of taboo, knowing it's impossible yet unable to let go. This contradiction can only stem from one emotion."

Tang Yuehua lowered her head and looked at the tea in her cup.

"Feelings themselves are neither right nor wrong," Nan Feng's voice was steady. "It's just that societal norms have set rules for them. You don't need to feel ashamed of your heart."

Tang Yuehua's tears fell, splashing into the teacup and creating ripples in the tea. She didn't wipe them away.

"You don't need to forget him," Nan Feng said. "You just need to let go. Letting go isn't forgetting; it's about no longer letting it hold you back."

Tang Yuehua raised her head, her face streaked with tears, but her eyes were bright.

"Let it go..." she repeated, a faint smile curving her lips, tinged with bitterness and relief.

Nan Feng stood up and walked to her. Tang Yuehua looked up at him, the morning light outlining her silhouette with a silver edge.

"Your Martial Soul Origin has been locked for decades; the Power of Creation can help open a crack in it," Nan Feng said, "But you must untie the knot in your heart yourself."

Tang Yuehua nodded.

Nan Feng extended his right hand, golden light condensing in his palm. He held his hand in front of her heart, an inch away from her body. The Power of Creation surged from his palm, transforming into a thin golden stream that seeped into the Martial Soul Core.

Tang Yuehua's body trembled.

The thin stream flowed through the meridians, reaching deep into the Martial Soul Core. The dark gray membrane enveloping the core began to vibrate upon being touched by the golden light. The Power of Creation did not tear it apart; instead, it seeped in little by little, like warm water soaking frozen soil.

Tang Yuehua closed her eyes. Cracks appeared on the thin film within the golden light, growing deeper and denser. In a fleeting moment, an extremely thin beam of golden light shone through the deepest part of the cracks.

The light was very thin, like a seed buried in thick soil breaking through its first shell.

A tear slid down Tang Yuehua's cheek, but this time the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

"Your Martial Soul Origin can evolve." Nan Feng withdrew his hand, the golden light dissipating in his palm. "The cracks on the membrane have opened; the rest will take time. Continue cultivating as before, and your Moonlight Martial Soul will break free of its constraints on its own."

Tang Yuehua opened her eyes and looked down at her palm. The illusory image of the incomplete crescent moon appeared, with an extremely bright golden crack on its outermost edge.

She stared at the crack for a very long time.

She looked up and grasped Nan Feng's wrist.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft, but every word carried weight.

Nan Feng did not withdraw his hand. The autumn wind blew past the hem of his clothes, and the red ribbon on his left wrist fluttered in the wind. Tang Yuehua's fingers were slightly cool.

She held it for a long time.

We drank tea very late that day.

As the sun set, Tang Yuehua escorted Nan Feng to the entrance of the Moonlight Pavilion. The vermilion gate was wide open, and autumn winds swept through the street outside, carrying withered leaves. Nan Feng stood outside the threshold, while Tang Yuehua stood inside.

"Next time we come to the Moonlight Pavilion," Tang Yuehua said, her voice regaining its tranquility, "the Meditation Grounds will be ready to use at any time."

The Nan Feng nodded.

Tang Yuehua looked at him, remained silent for a few moments, and then suddenly smiled. The smile was very faint.

"Nan Feng," she said, "Be careful on the road."

Nan Feng turned and walked into the sunset. After taking a dozen steps, he looked back. Tang Yuehua was still standing at the door, one hand on the door frame, her moon-white dress billowing in the wind.

Nan Feng turned her head and continued walking forward. Inside the Tower Spirit Space, Old Huai's voice rang out. "This girl's Martial Soul Origin is recovering. That golden crack will expand; the speed of evolution depends on the extent to which she lets go. It could be as fast as three to five years, or as slow as..."

"The slower it goes, the longer it will take," Nan Feng continued.

Old Huai paused for a moment. "Good that you know. But her smile... it's different from before."

Nan Feng did not respond. He walked down the street, the setting sun casting a long shadow. Moonlight Pavilion grew farther and farther away behind him, and the two vermilion wooden doors closed, shutting Tang Yuehua inside.

That night, Tang Yuehua sat alone in the center of the white sand and gravel of Meditation Grounds. The moon rose, and its light bathed the backyard. She closed her eyes and circulated her Soul Power.

As the Soul Power passed through the Martial Soul Core, the golden crack flashed. The phantom of the Moonlight Martial Soul appeared in the soul, and the golden crack was extending outward.

Her Soul Power remained at level 9.

Deep within the Martial Soul Core, something is awakening.